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Red Wings send 11th championship banner to rafters at Joe Louis Arena

DETROIT - An 11th Stanley Cup banner has found a home at Joe Louis Arena.

The Detroit Red Wings celebrated their 2008 championship on Thursday night with a banner-raising ceremony that paid tribute to the rich history of the franchise. Gordie Howe, Ted Lindsay and Alex Delvecchio were among the 100 people that helped carry the giant red and white banner to the ice surface.

It was then raised to the rafters as flashbulbs went off around the arena in a ceremony prior to the season opener against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The team also displayed seven individual trophies on podiums around centre ice that were won by its players last season. Lidstrom later delivered the eighth - the Stanley Cup - to another podium as the sellout crowd cheered loudly.

Detroit's Stanley Cup victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins in June was the fourth for the franchise since 1997 and the 11th overall.

It was a somewhat awkward ceremony for two of the newest Red Wings. Winger Marian Hossa and backup goalie Ty Conklin were each part of the Penguins team that was beaten in the final by Detroit.